Don't Be Burdened By Surfeiting

Welcome to the inner workings of my brain. I am going to be transparent and let you in on where my mind goes during Bible Study. Yep, get ready, this is how I roll...

I like Luke 21. Oh, it's not a feel-good passage. It's about the signs of the End of the Age. There's nothing warm and fuzzy about wars, revolutions, famines, pestilences, fearful events, and persecution. But I like it because I can relate to it. We are definitely living in the End Times as far as I can see. Here is what I like: verse 28. Look at it! Well, ok, I will put it here for you so you don't have to go get your Bible. In the NIV it says, "When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near." Wow, that is so cool! When all these crazy things are happening, I should STAND UP and LIFT MY HEAD, my Jesus is coming back! Doesn't that excite you?

Well, as we wait, we can be tempted to get distracted. In this chapter Jesus goes on to warn us not to be distracted by things in life. Look at verse 34, ok, ok, don't get up, I'll type it for you. Here it is: "Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on  you unexpectedly like a trap." Hmmm, interesting. OK, in case you are wondering, drunkenness is not a personal temptation of mine. Never has been. But there are two other things in that list. I decided to do a word study on anxieties and on dissipation.

OK, now, as an aside, you need to know that recently Kris told me he may have to quit letting me watch USA news. It gets me all rowled up (how do you spell rowl? Well, I don't know how to spell it, but it's the best word to describe me when I watch the news). The craziness going on is almost more than I can handle. I flail my arms and holler. All you who think I am calm and happy all the time, you should watch me watch the news. It's not pretty. There's a bunch of craziness going on and it frustrates me. DISSIPATION.

When I watch the news I am distracted by dissipation. Did you know that the KJV says verse 34 like this, "And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting."

"Thanks, Jana, that clears it right up for us!"

Hence the word study. I looked up "overcharged". The Greek word is "baruno" and it means "burdened." That describes me after watching the news. The next word is "surfeiting". Is that any more clear to you than dissipation? Not for me either. "Surfeiting" in Greek can mean "headache". But get this, the word in Latin is "crapula". Seriously, that's what it is! I love word studies! Again, the word reminds me of stuff going on in the news.

There you go. Now you know what happens when I do word studies. I am encouraged to not be burdened by the headaches from the *Latin word* I see on the news. So, when I see *Latin word* on the news, I resolve to quit flailing my arms and hollering. I resolve to remember that these are the end times and that I will NOT get distracted by nonsense. I will lift up my head, my redemption is near!

Dear Hannah: Between the Lines

*NOTE: You can find the other "Dear Hannah" letters by clicking here or on the words "Dear Hannah" under "What's Up?" in the right-hand column.

Dear Hannah,

Your story of mothering from afar is comforting to me. That is what I am learning to do. I read about the first time you parted with your son and my own feelings of parting with my son surface. I stare at 1 Samuel 2:11, “Then Elkanah went home to Ramah, but the boy ministered before the Lord under Eli the priest.” After the beautiful gift of God (your precious baby boy) and the faithful keeping of your promise (to give him back to the Lord), you pray a wonderful prayer. The first part of your story is filled with emotion. I feel the pain, rest in the peace, rejoice in the answer to prayer and stand in awe at your strength. There is so much meaning  in these first verses of the book named after your son. Then, in chapter two verse eleven, “Elkanah went home to Ramah.” That’s it. Elkanah went home...the end.

I don’t think so!

How about “Elkanah and Hannah went home, and as they walked, they found themselves looking around for Samuel, thinking he was walking home with them”? Or how about, “Elkanah went home and Hannah set the table for three...and then sighed and put one plate back on the shelf because there were only two people eating that night”? Or maybe, “Elkanah and Hannah went home and Hannah thought of a funny joke to tell Samuel, only Samuel wasn’t around and Elkanah already knew the punch-line.” I think one of those sentences would be more realistic. There is so much more written between the words, “Elkanah went home.” I didn’t know that before, Hannah, but I do now. There is so much more written between the lines when I say, “Our son is attending boarding school.”

What did you do when you returned home? How did it feel? I have the wonderful benefit of parents who have had a very similar experience as mine. My mother wrote a letter for me to read when I got home from taking our son to school. I will share it with you:

Dear Jana,

Well – the house surely seems different now, doesn’t it? It will take awhile to get used to. Don’t let yourself wallow in this sadness. Just recognize it and remember it is part of God’s plan (for you as well as your son) and therefore is a good thing. Don’t miss what God is teaching you now. He will fill that aching hole with Himself. He will give you peace and comfort – it’s coming.

Dad and I are praying for each of you as you adjust to this. We hurt with you. But we also have the perspective of having been through it three times. Each time a little different and each time He showed us something new about Himself (and ourselves). He is trustworthy and faithful.

We are praying for you guys.

All our love,

Mom and Dad

I am thankful that God gave my mother the wisdom to read between the lines of “our son went to boarding school and then we went home”! I am curious, if you could re-write the verse, Hannah, from your own experience, what would you write between the words “Elkanah went home to Ramah”?

How Are You?

You know what a TCK is, right? A TCK is a third-culture-kid, someone who lives in a country other than his or her passport country. Because of this dual culture, he or she often has a unique "third culture" that is not 100% of either one that they have lived in. I am definitely a TCK. I have never been 100%  a part of any culture. That's cool, I don't mind that. I like it. But here's the deal: as an adult I've added a few more cultures to the mix by adapting to life in several additional countries. The result? Comedy.

The other day I was inviting an Asian friend into my home. I hadn't seen her in awhile and was very happy to see her again. "How are you!?" I asked, very happily.

"I am fine. How are you?"

"Oh, I am fine. I am so happy to see you! Come in!" I ushered her in, "It's been so long since I have seen you! How are you doing?"

"Fine," she replied. My, it was good to see her again.

"So, how are you?" I asked happily. She sort of grunted. Oh dear, something must be wrong. "Oh no, what is wrong?"

"Nothing, why?"

"Well, I asked how you were and you sounded like something was wrong."

"Oh, no," she replied, "Nothing is wrong, but why do you keep on asking me how I am doing?"

Clash of cultures, none of which are mine! I was using my North African way of greeting with my Asian friend. I haven't lived on North African soil for over three years and all this time I've been greeting people this way because after so many years there, it came naturally. I didn't even realize I did it. Thankfully, my gracious friend found humor in my explanation and we spent the rest of the afternoon asking each other, "By the way, how are you?"

Note to self: I only ask Asians ONE TIME and then think of something else to talk about. OK, got it...I think.